Never in a million years when I contracted with you to help me with business continuity planning and crisis management, did I imagine we would be dealing with a viral pandemic and its effects on us personally, in our businesses, and in our society at large.

Given that we have a complex family business, where we are making a succession transition from my husband — who is also the founder — to me (23 years his junior), I knew I had challenges on my hands. In the past ten years our single focus company has expanded within our niche of the equestrian field and developed into four separate business entities within a corporate holding structure. I had internal issues and I had external issues. I knew I wanted help from someone who could offer practical, topical suggestions based on experience and knowledge. I also knew I had several possible crisis issues I was likely to face at some point, again both internal and external, and I knew enough to recognize the probability and the need for a valuable perspective and expert guidance. I knew I didn’t want to handle a crisis alone and without expertise.

We ventured into a business relationship cautiously by developing a personal/ professional relationship based on common interests and viewpoints. I subscribed to your weekly newsletter and often noted the sage advice offered in brief, topical missives. I have a select cadre of advisers I can turn to, commonly legal, investment, and taxation. But I knew I needed more. I recognized the complexities of owning and running a business in this day and age, and so much of what you said made sense.

I knew I needed to really focus on my business continuity plan and you kept gently, but regularly prodding me. You were readily available to use as a sounding board, and your mere presence gave me a sense of confidence and knowledge that I had capable advisers at my side.

And then COVID 19 hit and the world as we knew turned upside down and inside out. We are in the midst of a society-wide shut down and economic disaster. You don’t have all the answers. No one does. What you do have is perspective, sound advice, and the ability to serve as a resource to me as I figure out how to get my companies, my fabulous Teams, and myself to the other side. I know I can also count on you to provide guidance for how to recover and be positioned to recognize and pursue opportunities.

Thank you for being a valuable adviser to The Langer Group, and I hope you will continue to do so for years to come.